Lodi Parents of Dodger-Fan Stabbing Suspect: Son Acted in Self-Defense

Lisa Fernandez (NBCLA) | September 27, 2013

The parents of the Lodi, Calif., man arrested for allegedly stabbing a Los Angeles Dodgers fan after Wednesday’s Giants game say that their son claims the killing was in self-defense.

Michael Montgomery, 21, was arrested Thursday in connection with the death of Jonathan Denver, 24. The suspect’s mother, Victoria Montgomery, says her son is “freaking out” about what happened when a rivalry-fueled fight turned fatal late Wednesday night.

“My son says he was hit with a chair,” Victoria Montgomery told NBC Bay Area Friday morning. “He was just trying to defend himself. He is in shock.”

As of Friday morning, Montgomery’s court date had not been scheduled.

MORE: Arrest Made in Dodgers Stabbing Death

His mother’s comments mirror what her ex-husband, Marty Montgomery, told the Lodi News-Sentinel after speaking with his son, who remains in San Francisco County Jail. According to that account, the suspect said Denver yelled, “Giants suck,” at his friend, who was wearing a Giants hat, then Denver and others hit his son and their friends without warning. They were in San Francisco for a concert, Montgomery’s mother said.

The elder Montgomery said his son was jumped during the fight and stabbed Denver – ironically, the son of a Dodgers security guard – to protect himself. Denver is about 6 feet 3 inches, and Montogmery is about 5 feet 8 inches, his mother said.

“It was a self-defense deal,” Marty Montgomery told the Lodi paper. “(Michael) got jumped. (Denver and friends) started swinging chairs and he stabbed (Denver). (Denver) mouthed off about the San Francisco hat. It wasn’t even (Michael’s) hat.'”